U.S. patent number 9,118,122 [Application Number 14/231,431] was granted by the patent office on 2015-08-25 for assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit and electronic device including the assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wistron Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Wistron Corporation. Invention is credited to Jui-Lin Hsiao, Che-Wen Liu, Yu-Ju Liu.
United States Patent |
9,118,122 |
Liu , et al. |
August 25, 2015 |
Assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit and electronic
device including the assembly
Abstract
An assembly includes an electrical connector, a cable unit, and
adapter terminals. The electrical connector includes an insulator
body and conductive terminals disposed at the insulator body. Each
conductive terminal includes an insert arm positioned outside the
insulator body. The cable unit includes a plug connector and cables
connected to the plug connector. Each of the adapter terminals is
connected to a core wire of a corresponding cable and is sleeved on
the insert arm of a corresponding conductive terminal. Each adapter
terminal is electrically connected between the core wire of the
corresponding cable and the insert arm of the corresponding
conductive terminal.
Inventors: |
Liu; Yu-Ju (New Taipei,
TW), Liu; Che-Wen (New Taipei, TW), Hsiao;
Jui-Lin (New Taipei, TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wistron Corporation |
New Taipei |
N/A |
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Wistron Corporation (New
Taipei, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
50541915 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/231,431 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20150118918 A1 |
Apr 30, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 29, 2013 [TW] |
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102220092 A |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
11/22 (20130101); H01R 4/18 (20130101); H01R
31/06 (20130101); H01R 24/58 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/10 (20060101); H01R 4/18 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/877,849,850,846,847,872,746,743,745 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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|
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3363224 |
January 1968 |
Gluntz et al. |
3546663 |
December 1970 |
Centre, Jr. |
5344348 |
September 1994 |
Willis et al. |
5667414 |
September 1997 |
Karacora |
7462080 |
December 2008 |
Shiraishi et al. |
|
Primary Examiner: Hyeon; Hae Moon
Attorney, Agent or Firm: The Mueller Law Office, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit,
comprising: the electrical connector including an insulator body
and a plurality of conductive terminals disposed at said insulator
body, each of said conductive terminals protruding partly outside
said insulator body, and including an insert arm positioned outside
said insulator body; the cable unit including a plug connector and
a plurality of cables connected to said plug connector, each of
said cables including a core wire; and a plurality of adapter
terminals each connected to said core wire of a corresponding one
of said cables and sleeved on said insert arm of a corresponding
one of said conductive terminals, each of said adapter terminals
being electrically connected between said core wire of the
corresponding one of said cables and said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals.
2. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 1, wherein each of said conductive terminals
further includes a protruding arm protruding from said insulator
body, said protruding arm having a top surface and a distal end
distal from said insulator body, said insert arm extending upward
from said distal end of said protruding arm, each of said adapter
terminals including a base plate, two sleeve plates respectively
connected to two opposite sides of said base plate and disposed to
sleeve on said insert arm of the corresponding one of said
conductive terminals, and two first gripping plates respectively
connected to said opposite sides of said base plate and disposed to
grip said core wire of the corresponding one of said cables, said
two sleeve plates of each of said adapter terminals being sleeved
on said insert arm of the corresponding one of said conductive
terminals along a downward assembling direction.
3. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 2, wherein, for each of said adapter terminals,
said base plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite
to said first surface, said two sleeve plates extend from said base
plate in a direction opposite to said second surface, and said two
first gripping plates extend from said base plate in a direction
opposite to said first surface.
4. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 3, wherein each of said cables further includes
an insulator sheath covering said core wire, each of said adapter
terminals further including two second gripping plates respectively
connected to said opposite sides of said base plate and disposed to
grip said insulator sheath of the corresponding one of said cables,
said two second gripping plates extending from said base plate in
said direction opposite to said first surface, said two second
gripping plates being positioned between said two first gripping
plates and said two sleeve plates.
5. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 3, wherein each of said cables further includes
an insulator sheath covering said core wire, each of said adapter
terminals further including two second gripping plates respectively
connected to said opposite sides of said base plate and disposed to
grip said insulator sheath of the corresponding one of said cables,
said two second gripping plates extending from said base plate in
said direction opposite to said first surface, said two first
gripping plates being positioned between said two second gripping
plates and said two sleeve plates.
6. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 3, wherein, for each of said adapter terminals,
said base plate cooperates with said two sleeve plates to define a
receiving slot and a bottom opening in spatial communication with
said receiving slot, said insert arm of the corresponding one of
said conductive terminals being extended into said receiving slot
through said bottom opening, said insert arm of each of said
conductive terminals including at least one support face and at
least one stop face spaced apart from and located above said
support face, one of said sleeve plates including an abutting face
abutting against said support face of said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals, and a resilient arm
located below said stop face of said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals, said stop face
stopping said resilient arm to prevent said insert arm from
separating from said receiving slot through said bottom
opening.
7. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 6, wherein said insert arm of each of said
conductive terminals includes an extending segment extending upward
from said distal end of said protruding arm and having a top end,
and an insert segment extending upward from said top end of said
extending segment and having two opposite sides, said insert
segment having a width shorter than that of said extending segment,
said extending segment having two of said support faces located on
said top end and respectively connected to said opposite sides of
said insert segment, each of said sleeve plates of each of said
adapter terminals having a lower surrounding plate segment
connected to said base plate and disposed to surround said insert
segment of said insert arm of the corresponding one of said
conductive terminals, said lower surrounding plate segment
including a side plate portion, said side plate portions of said
lower surrounding plate segments of said sleeve plates of each of
said adapter terminals being located respectively at said opposite
sides of said insert segment of said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals, said side plate
portion having said abutting face at a bottom of said side plate
portion for abutting against a corresponding one of said support
faces of said extending segment of said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals.
8. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 7, wherein each of said sleeve plates of each of
said adapter terminals has said resilient arm extending upward from
a top end of said side plate portion and inclining inward, said
resilient arm having a top locking end, said insert segment of said
insert arm of each of said conductive terminals having a neck
portion connected to said extending segment, and a top pushing head
portion formed on a top end of said neck portion, said top pushing
head portion being disposed to push said resilient arms of said
sleeve plates of the corresponding one of said adapter terminals to
deform and bend outward, said top pushing head portion having two
bottom stop faces connected respectively to opposite sides of said
neck portion for stopping said top locking ends of said resilient
arms of the corresponding one of said adapter terminals.
9. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 8, wherein said top pushing head portion of said
insert segment of said insert arm of each of said conductive
terminals further has a curved top pushing face for pushing said
resilient arms of said two sleeve plates of the corresponding one
of said adapter terminals.
10. The assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit
according to claim 8, wherein said neck portion of said insert
segment of said insert arm of each of said conductive terminals has
two opposite upright side surfaces and two inclined side surfaces
respectively connected to top ends of said two upright side
surfaces, said two inclined side surfaces extending upward and
converging toward each other and being respectively connected to
said bottom stop faces of said top pushing head portion, said lower
surrounding plate segments of each of said adapter terminals
surrounding said neck portion of said insert segment of said insert
arm of the corresponding one of said conductive terminals, said
side plate portions of said lower surrounding plate segments being
disposed outwardly and respectively of said upright side surfaces
of said neck portion of said insert segment of said insert arm of
the corresponding one of said conductive terminals, said resilient
arms of each of said adapter terminals gripping said inclined side
surfaces of said neck portion of said insert segment of said insert
arm of the corresponding one of said conductive terminals, each of
said sleeve plates of each of said adapter terminals further
including an upper surrounding plate segment connected to said base
plate and spaced apart from and located above said resilient arms,
said upper surrounding plate segments of said sleeve plates
surrounding said top pushing head portion of said insert segment of
said insert arm of the corresponding one of said conductive
terminals.
11. An electronic device comprising: a shell body formed with a
receiving space, said shell body including a side wall formed with
an opening that is in spatial communication with said receiving
space; a mother board disposed within said receiving space and
including a socket connector; an electrical connector disposed in
said receiving space and disposed proximate to said side wall, said
electrical connector including an insulator body and a plurality of
conductive terminals disposed at said insulator body, said
insulator body being formed with an insert hole corresponding to
said opening, each of said conductive terminals protruding partly
outside said insulator body, and including an insert arm positioned
outside said insulator body; a cable unit disposed in said
receiving space, said cable unit including a plug connector
connected to said socket connector, and a plurality of cables
connected to said plug connector, each of said cables including a
core wire; and a plurality of adapter terminals each connected to
said core wire of a corresponding one of said cables and sleeved on
said insert arm of a corresponding one of said conductive
terminals, each of said adapter terminals being electrically
connected between said core wire of the corresponding one of said
cables and said insert arm of the corresponding one of said
conductive terminals.
12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein each of
said conductive terminals further includes a protruding arm
protruding from said insulator body, said protruding arm having a
top surface and a distal end distal from said insulator body, said
insert arm extending upward from said distal end of said protruding
arm, each of said adapter terminals including a base plate, two
sleeve plates respectively connected to two opposite sides of said
base plate and disposed to sleeve on said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals, and two first
gripping plates respectively connected to said opposite sides of
said base plate and disposed to grip said core wire of the
corresponding one of said cables, said two sleeve plates of each of
said adapter terminals being sleeved on said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals along a downward
assembling direction.
13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein, for each
of said adapter terminals, said base plate has a first surface and
a second surface opposite to said first surface, said two sleeve
plates extend from said base plate in a direction opposite to said
second surface, and said two first gripping plates extend from said
base plate in a direction opposite to said first surface.
14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein each of
said cables further includes an insulator sheath covering said core
wire, each of said adapter terminals further including two second
gripping plates respectively connected to said opposite sides of
said base plate and disposed to grip said insulator sheath of the
corresponding one of said cables, said two second gripping plates
extending from said base plate in said direction opposite to said
first surface, said two second gripping plates being positioned
between said two first gripping plates and said two sleeve
plates.
15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein each of
said cables further includes an insulator sheath covering said core
wire, each of said adapter terminals further including two second
gripping plates respectively connected to said opposite sides of
said base plate and disposed to grip said insulator sheath of the
corresponding one of said cables, said two second gripping plates
extending from said base plate in said direction opposite to said
first surface, said two first gripping plates being positioned
between said two second gripping plates and said two sleeve
plates.
16. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein, for each
of said adapter terminals, said base plate cooperates with said two
sleeve plates to define a receiving slot and a bottom opening in
spatial communication with said receiving slot, said insert arm of
the corresponding one of said conductive terminals being extended
into said receiving slot through said bottom opening, said insert
arm of each of said conductive terminals including at least one
support face and at least one stop face spaced apart from and
located above said support face, one of said sleeve plates
including an abutting face abutting against said support face of
said insert arm of the corresponding one of said conductive
terminals, and a resilient arm located below said stop face of said
insert arm of the corresponding one of said conductive terminals,
said stop face stopping said resilient arm to prevent said insert
arm from separating from said receiving slot through said bottom
opening.
17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein said
insert arm of each of said conductive terminals includes an
extending segment extending upward from said distal end of said
protruding arm and having a top end, and an insert segment
extending upward from said top end of said extending segment and
having two opposite sides, said insert segment having a width
shorter than that of said extending segment, said extending segment
having two of said support faces located on said top end and
respectively connected to said opposite sides of said insert
segment, each of said sleeve plates of each of said adapter
terminals having a lower surrounding plate segment connected to
said base plate and disposed to surround said insert segment of
said insert arm of the corresponding one of said conductive
terminals, said lower surrounding plate segment including a side
plate portion, said side plate portions of said lower surrounding
plate segments of said sleeve plates of each of said adapter
terminals being located respectively at said opposite sides of said
insert segment of said insert arm of the corresponding one of said
conductive terminals, said side plate portion having said abutting
face at a bottom of said side plate portion for abutting against a
corresponding one of said support faces of said extending segment
of said insert arm of the corresponding one of said conductive
terminals.
18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein each of
said sleeve plates of each of said adapter terminals has said
resilient arm extending upward from a top end of said side plate
portion and inclining inward, said resilient arm having a top
locking end, said insert segment of said insert arm of each of said
conductive terminals having a neck portion connected to said
extending segment, and a top pushing head portion formed on a top
end of said neck portion, said top pushing head portion being
disposed to push said resilient arms of said sleeve plates of the
corresponding one of said adapter terminals to deform and bend
outward, said top pushing head portion having two bottom stop faces
connected respectively to opposite sides of said neck portion for
stopping said top locking ends of said resilient arms of the
corresponding one of said adapter terminals.
19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein said top
pushing head portion of said insert segment of said insert arm of
each of said conductive terminals further has a curved top pushing
face for pushing said resilient arms of said two sleeve plates of
the corresponding one of said adapter terminals.
20. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein said neck
portion of said insert segment of said insert arm of each of said
conductive terminals has two opposite upright side surfaces and two
inclined side surfaces respectively connected to top ends of said
two upright side surfaces, said two inclined side surfaces
extending upward and converging toward each other and being
respectively connected to said bottom stop faces of said top
pushing head portion, said lower surrounding plate segments of each
of said adapter terminals surrounding said neck portion of said
insert segment of said insert arm of the corresponding one of said
conductive terminals, said side plate portions of said lower
surrounding plate segments being disposed outwardly and
respectively of said upright side surfaces of said neck portion of
said insert segment of said insert arm of the corresponding one of
said conductive terminals, said resilient arms of each of said
adapter terminals gripping said inclined side surfaces of said neck
portion of said insert segment of said insert arm of the
corresponding one of said conductive terminals, each of said sleeve
plates of each of said adapter terminals further including an upper
surrounding plate segment connected to said base plate and spaced
apart from and located above said resilient arms, said upper
surrounding plate segments of said sleeve plates surrounding said
top pushing head portion of said insert segment of said insert arm
of the corresponding one of said conductive terminals.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No.
102220092, filed on Oct. 29, 2013, the entire disclosure of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to an assembly of an electrical connector
and a cable unit, more particularly to an assembly of an electrical
connector and a cable unit in which a plurality of conductive
terminals of the electrical connector are electrically connected to
a plurality of cables of the cable unit via a plurality of adapter
terminals therebetween. The disclosure also relates to an
electronic device including the assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a presently available electronic device 1, for
example, a notebook computer or a tablet computer, includes a shell
body 11, a mother board 12 disposed within the shell body 11, and
an audio connector 13 disposed within the shell body 11. The audio
connector 13 is proximate to a side wall 111 of the shell body 11
and positionally corresponds to an opening 112 in the side wall
111. Since the mother board 12 is influenced by the inner space
limitations of the shell body 11, the mother board 12 cannot be
disposed in a position proximate to the side wall 111. Therefore, a
plurality of conductive terminals (not shown) of the audio
connector 13 have to be soldered onto a circuit board 14, and an
electric signal from the audio connector 13 is transmitted through
a cable unit 15 electrically connected between the circuit board 14
and the mother board 12. The cable unit 15 includes two plug
connectors 151 at two opposite ends thereof. The plug connectors
151 are respectively connected to a socket connector 121 of the
mother board 12 and a socket connector 141 of the circuit board 14
so that the cable unit 15 is electrically connected between the
mother board 12 and the circuit board 14.
Since the conductive terminals of the audio connector 13 have to be
soldered onto the circuit board 14 so as to electrically connect
the audio connector 13 to the mother board 12 through the circuit
board 14 and the cable unit 15, the assembling procedure is
relatively complicated and time-wasting.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an
assembly of an electrical connector and a cable unit, wherein
assembling convenience is enhanced and assembling time is reduced
by electrically connecting a plurality of conductive terminals of
the electrical connector to a plurality of cables of the cable unit
via a plurality of adapter terminals.
Accordingly, an assembly of an electrical connector and a cable
unit of this disclosure includes an electrical connector, a cable
unit, and a plurality of adapter terminals.
The electrical connector includes an insulator body and a plurality
of conductive terminals disposed at the insulator body. Each of the
conductive terminals protrudes partly outside the insulator body,
and includes an insert arm positioned outside the insulator body.
The cable unit includes a plug connector and a plurality of cables
connected to the plug connector. Each of the cables includes a core
wire. Each of the adapter terminals is connected to the core wire
of a corresponding one of the cables and is sleeved on the insert
arm of a corresponding one of the conductive terminals. Each of the
adapter terminals is electrically connected between the core wire
of the corresponding one of the cables and the insert arm of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals.
Preferably, each of the conductive terminals further includes a
protruding arm protruding from the insulator body. The protruding
arm has a top surface and a distal end distal from the insulator
body. The insert arm extends upward from the distal end of the
protruding arm. Each of the adapter terminals includes a base
plate, two sleeve plates respectively connected to two opposite
sides of the base plate and disposed to sleeve on the insert arm of
the corresponding one of the conductive terminals, and two first
gripping plates respectively connected to the opposite sides of the
base plate and disposed to grip the core wire of the corresponding
one of the cables. The two sleeve plates of each of the adapter
terminals are sleeved on the insert arm of the corresponding one of
the conductive terminals along a downward assembling direction.
Preferably, for each of the adapter terminals, the base plate has a
first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface.
The two sleeve plates extend from the base plate in a direction
opposite to the second surface, and the two first gripping plates
extend from the base plate in a direction opposite to the first
surface.
Preferably, each of the cables further includes an insulator sheath
covering the core wire. Each of the adapter terminals further
includes two second gripping plates respectively connected to the
opposite sides of the base plate and disposed to grip the insulator
sheath of the corresponding one of the cables. The two second
gripping plates extend from the base plate in the direction
opposite to the first surface. The two second gripping plates are
positioned between the two first gripping plates and the two sleeve
plates.
Alternatively, each of the cables further includes an insulator
sheath covering the core wire. Each of the adapter terminals
further includes two second gripping plates respectively connected
to the opposite sides of the base plate and disposed to grip the
insulator sheath of the corresponding one of the cables. The two
second gripping plates extend from the base plate in the direction
opposite to the first surface. The two first gripping plates are
positioned between the two second gripping plates and the two
sleeve plates.
Preferably, for each of the adapter terminals, the base plate
cooperates with the two sleeve plates to define a receiving slot
and a bottom opening in spatial communication with the receiving
slot. The insert arm of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals is extended into the receiving slot through the bottom
opening. The insert arm of each of the conductive terminals
includes at least one support face and at least one stop face
spaced apart from and located above the support face. One of the
sleeve plates includes an abutting face abutting against the
support face of the insert arm of the corresponding one of the
conductive terminals, and a resilient arm located below the stop
face of the insert arm of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals. The stop face stops the resilient arm to prevent the
insert arm from separating from the receiving slot through the
bottom opening.
Preferably, the insert arm of each of the conductive terminals
includes an extending segment extending upward from the distal end
of the protruding arm and having a top end, and an insert segment
extending upward from the top end of the extending segment and
having two opposite sides. The insert segment has a width shorter
than that of the extending segment. The extending segment has two
of the support faces located on the top end and respectively
connected to the opposite sides of the insert segment. Each of the
sleeve plates of each of the adapter terminals has a lower
surrounding plate segment connected to the base plate and disposed
to surround the insert segment of the insert arm of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals. The lower
surrounding plate segment includes aside plate portion. The side
plate portions of the lower surrounding plate segments of the
sleeve plates of each of the adapter terminals are located
respectively at the opposite sides of the insert segment of the
insert arm of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals.
The side plate portion has the abutting face at a bottom of the
side plate portion for abutting against a corresponding one of the
support faces of the extending segment of the insert arm of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals.
Preferably, each of the sleeve plates of each of the adapter
terminals has the resilient arm extending upward from a top end of
the side plate portion and inclining inward. The resilient arm has
a top locking end. The insert segment of the insert arm of each of
the conductive terminals has a neck portion connected to the
extending segment, and a top pushing head portion formed on a top
end of the neck portion. The top pushing head portion is disposed
to push the resilient arms of the sleeve plates of the
corresponding one of the adapter terminals to deform and bend
outward. The top pushing head portion has two bottom stop faces
connected respectively to opposite sides of the neck portion for
stopping the top locking ends of the resilient arms of the
corresponding one of the adapter terminals.
Preferably, the top pushing head portion of the insert segment of
the insert arm of each of the conductive terminals further has a
curved top pushing face for pushing the resilient arms of the two
sleeve plates of the corresponding one of the adapter
terminals.
Preferably, the neck portion of the insert segment of the insert
arm of each of the conductive terminals has two opposite upright
side surfaces and two inclined side surfaces respectively connected
to top ends of the two upright side surfaces. The two inclined side
surfaces extend upward and converge toward each other and are
respectively connected to the bottom stop faces of the top pushing
head portion. The lower surrounding plate segments of each of the
adapter terminals surround the neck portion of the insert segment
of the insert arm of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals. The side plate portions of the lower surrounding plate
segments are disposed outwardly and respectively of the upright
side surfaces of the neck portion of the insert segment of the
insert arm of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals.
The resilient arms of each of the adapter terminals grip the
inclined side surfaces of the neck portion of the insert segment of
the insert arm of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals. Each of the sleeve plates of each of the adapter
terminals further includes an upper surrounding plate segment
connected to the base plate and spaced apart from and located above
the resilient arms. The upper surrounding plate segments of the
sleeve plates surround the top pushing head portion of the insert
segment of the insert arm of the corresponding one of the
conductive terminals.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an
electronic device including the aforementioned assembly of an
electrical connector and a cable unit, wherein assembling
convenience is enhanced and assembling time is reduced by
electrically connecting a plurality of conductive terminals of the
electrical connector to a plurality of cables of the cable unit via
a plurality of adapter terminals.
Accordingly, an electronic device of this disclosure includes a
shell body, a mother board, an electrical connector, a cable unit,
and a plurality of adapter terminals.
The shell body is formed with a receiving space. The shell body
includes a side wall formed with an opening that is in spatial
communication with the receiving space. The mother board is
disposed within the receiving space and includes a socket
connector.
The electrical connector is disposed in the receiving space and is
disposed proximate to the side wall. The electrical connector
includes an insulator body and a plurality of conductive terminals
disposed at the insulator body. The insulator body is formed with
an insert hole corresponding to the opening. Each of the conductive
terminals protrudes partly outside the insulator body, and includes
an insert arm positioned outside the insulator body. The cable unit
is disposed in the receiving space. The cable unit includes a plug
connector connected to the socket connector, and a plurality of
cables connected to the plug connector. Each of the cables includes
a core wire. Each of the adapter terminals is connected to the core
wire of a corresponding one of the cables and is sleeved on the
insert arm of a corresponding one of the conductive terminals. Each
of the adapter terminals is electrically connected between the core
wire of the corresponding one of the cables and the insert arm of
the corresponding one of the conductive terminals.
The effect of the present disclosure lies in that each of the
adapter terminals is connected to the core wire of a corresponding
one of the cables and is sleeved on the insert arm of a
corresponding one of the conductive terminals so that each of the
conductive terminals of the electrical connector is electrically
connected to the core wire of the corresponding one of the cables
through a corresponding one of the adapter terminals. Assembling
convenience is enhanced and assembling time is also reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become
apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a presently
available electronic device to illustrate that a plurality of
conductive terminals of an audio connector are soldered onto a
circuit board and that the circuit board is electrically connected
to a mother board through a cable unit;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a first
embodiment of an electronic device including an assembly of an
electrical connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure
to illustrate that a baffle plate abuts against the top of an
insulator body of an electrical connector so that the electrical
connector is firmly positioned within a shell body;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of an
electronic device including an assembly of an electrical connector
and a cable unit according to this disclosure to illustrate that
each of adapter terminals is connected to a core wire of a
corresponding one of cables and is sleeved on an insert arm of a
corresponding one of conductive terminals;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of
an electronic device including an assembly of an electrical
connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure to
illustrate an assembling relationship of the adapter terminals, the
cables, and the conductive terminals;
FIG. 5 is another exploded perspective view of the first embodiment
of an electronic device including an assembly of an electrical
connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure to
illustrate the assembling relationship of the adapter terminals,
the cables, and the conductive terminals;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4 to illustrate the
assembling relationship of the adapter terminals, the cables, and
the conductive terminals;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the adapter terminal of the first
embodiment of an electronic device including an assembly of an
electrical connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure
to illustrate detailed configuration of the adapter terminal;
FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment of an
electronic device including an assembly of an electrical connector
and a cable unit according to this disclosure to illustrate an
assembling relation ship between the adapter terminal and the
insert arm of the conductive terminal;
FIG. 9 is an assembling schematic view of the first embodiment of
an electronic device including an assembly of an electrical
connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure to
illustrate that the cable is inserted to be disposed between two
first gripping plates and between two second gripping plates of the
adapter terminal along a downward assembling direction;
FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment of an
electronic device including an assembly of an electrical connector
and a cable unit according to this disclosure to illustrate that
the adapter terminal is sleeved on the insert arm of the conductive
terminal along the downward assembling direction and that a top
pushing head portion of the insert arm is disposed to push two
resilient arms to deform and bend outward;
FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment of an
electronic device including an assembly of an electrical connector
and a cable unit according to this disclosure to illustrate that
two sleeve plates of the adapter terminal are sleeved on an insert
segment of the insert arm;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the first
embodiment of an electronic device including an assembly of an
electrical connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure
to illustrate that the electrical connector is disposed on a bottom
wall of the shell body and that a plug connector of the cable unit
is plugged in a socket connector of a mother board;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of an electronic device including an assembly of an
electrical connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure
to illustrate an assembling relationship between the adapter
terminal and the cable; and
FIG. 14 is an assembling schematic view of the second embodiment of
an electronic device including an assembly of an electrical
connector and a cable unit according to this disclosure to
illustrate the cable is inserted to be disposed between the two
first gripping plates and between the two second gripping plates of
the adapter terminal along an upward installing direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Before the present disclosure is described in greater detail, it
should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of an electronic
device 200 according to this disclosure is shown to include a shell
body 2, a mother board 3, an electrical connector 4, a cable unit
5, and a plurality of adapter terminals 6.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the shell body 2 is formed with
a receiving space 20. The shell body 2 includes a bottom wall 21,
and a side wall 22 connected to a side of the bottom wall 21. The
side wall 22 is formed with an opening 221 that is in spatial
communication with the receiving space 20. The mother board 3 is
disposed within the receiving space 20 and includes a socket
connector 31.
The electrical connector 4 in this embodiment is illustrated using
an audio connector. The electrical connector 4 is disposed in the
receiving space 20, and is disposed on the bottom wall 21 and
proximate to the side wall 22. The electrical connector 4 includes
an insulator body 41 and a plurality of conductive terminals 42
disposed at the insulator body 41. The insulator body 41 is formed
with an insert hole 411 corresponding to the opening 221. Thereby,
a wire connector (not shown) may be inserted into the insert hole
411 through the opening 221 so that a plurality of terminals (not
shown) of the wire connector are correspondingly electrically
connected to the conductive terminals 42. Each of the conductive
terminals 42 protrudes partly outside the insulator body 41, and
includes an insert arm 421 positioned outside the insulator body
41.
The cable unit 5 is disposed in the receiving space 20. The cable
unit 5 includes a plug connector 51 connected to the socket
connector 31, and a plurality of cables 52 connected to the plug
connector 51. Each of the cables 52 includes a core wire 521. Each
of the adapter terminals 6 is connected to the core wire 521 of a
corresponding one of the cables 52 and is sleeved on the insert arm
421 of a corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. Each of
the adapter terminals 6 is electrically connected between the core
wire 521 of the corresponding one of the cables 52 and the insert
arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. As
described above, each of the adapter terminals 6 is connected to
the core wire 521 of a corresponding one of the cables 52 and is
sleeved on the insert arm 421 of a corresponding one of the
conductive terminals 42 so that each of the conductive terminals 42
of the electrical connector 4 is electrically connected to the core
wire 521 of a corresponding one of the cables 52 through a
corresponding one of the adapter terminals 6. Compared to the
aforesaid prior art, it is not necessary to solder the conducive
terminals 42 of the electrical connector onto a circuit board.
Therefore, assembling convenience is enhanced and assembling time
is reduced. Furthermore, the circuit board 14, a socket connector
141 of the circuit board 14, and two plug connectors 151 of the
cable unit 15 required in the aforesaid prior art may be omitted.
Therefore, the cost for manufacturing these components can be
saved.
The specific structures and the assembling manners of the
conductive terminals 42 of the electrical connector 4, the cables
52 of the cable unit 5, and the adapter terminals 6 will now be
described in detail.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, each of the conductive terminals 42
further includes a protruding arm 422 protruding horizontally from
a side of the insulator body 41. The protruding arm 422 has a top
surface 423 and a distal end 424 distal from the insulator body 41.
The insert arm 421 extends upward from the distal end 424 of the
protruding arm 422. Each of the adapter terminals 6 is manufactured
by impact molding a metal material. Each of the adapter terminals 6
includes a base plate 61, two sleeve plates 62 respectively
connected to two opposite sides of the base plate 61 and disposed
to sleeve on the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the
conductive terminals 42, and two first gripping plates 63
respectively connected to the opposite sides of the base plate 61
and disposed to grip the core wire 521 of the corresponding one of
the cables 52. The insert arm 421 of each of the conductive
terminals 42 extends upward from the distal end 424 of the
protruding arm 422 so that the two sleeve plates 62 of each of the
adapter terminals 6 are sleeved on the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42 along a downward
assembling direction (I), as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, when each
of the adapter terminals 6 is sleeved on the corresponding insert
arm 421, the space occupied by the adapter terminals 6 within the
receiving space 20 of the shell body 12 may be reduced so as to
avoid influencing the disposition of other electronic elements.
The base plate 61 of each of the adapter terminals has a
rectangular shape, and extends along a longitudinal direction
parallel to the downward assembling direction (I). For each of the
adapter terminals 6, the base plate 61 has a first surface 611 and
a second surface 612 opposite to the first surface 611. The two
sleeve plates 62 extend from the base plate 61 in a direction
opposite to the second surface 612, and the two first gripping
plates 63 extend from the base plate 61 in a direction opposite to
the first surface 611. The core wire 521 of the corresponding one
of the cables 52 may be inserted between the two first gripping
plates 63 along the downward assembling direction (I) so that the
two first gripping plates 63 are disposed to grip the core wire 521
of the corresponding one of the cables 52. Since the core wire 521
of each of the cables 52 may not be obstructed by the two sleeve
plates during the act of inserting, the assembling convenience and
flexibility may be effectively enhanced.
Specifically, in this embodiment, each of the cables 52 further
includes an insulator sheath 522 covering the core wire 521. The
core wire 521 extends out of an end of the insulator sheath 522.
Each of the adapter terminals 6 further includes two second
gripping plates 64 respectively connected to the opposite sides of
the base plate 61. The two second gripping plates 64 extend from
the base plate 61 in the direction opposite to the first surface
611. The two second gripping plates 64 are positioned between the
two first gripping plates 63 and the two sleeve plates 62, and are
disposed to grip the insulator sheath 522 of the corresponding one
of the cables 52. Each of the cables 52 is inserted along the
downward assembling direction (I) to be disposed between the two
first gripping plates 63 and between the two second gripping plates
64 so that the two first gripping plates 63 and the two second
gripping plates correspondingly grip the core wire 521 and the
insulator sheath 522. Therefore, the adapter terminals 6 may firmly
grip the cables 52 correspondingly so as to prevent the core wire
521 from departing from the two first gripping plates 63 due to the
influence of an external force acting on the cables 52.
For each of the adaptor terminals 6, the base plate 61 cooperates
with the two sleeve plates 62 to define a receiving slot 65 for
receiving the insert arm 421 of a corresponding one of the
conductive terminals 42, and a bottom opening 66 in spatial
communication with the receiving slot 65. The insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42 is extended into
the receiving slot 65 through the bottom opening 66. The insert arm
421 of each of the conductive terminals 42 includes an extending
segment 425 extending upward from the distal end 424 of the
protruding arm 422 and having a top end, and an insert segment 426
extending upward from the top end of the extending segment 425 and
having two opposite sides. The insert segment 426 has a width
shorter than that of the extending segment 425. The extending
segment 425 has at least one support face 427 located on the top
end and connected to the insert segment 426. In this embodiment, as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the extending segment 425 of each of two
conductive terminals 42 proximate to a rear end of the insulator
body 41 has one support face 427, and the extending segment 425 of
each of the remaining conductive terminals 42 has two of the
support faces 427 located on the top end and respectively connected
to the opposite sides of the insert segment 426.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, each of the sleeve plates 62 of
each of the adapter terminals 6 has a lower surrounding plate
segment 621 connected to a side of the base plate 61 and disposed
to surround the insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. The lower
surrounding plate segments 621 of the two sleeve plates 62
cooperate with the base plate 61 to define the bottom opening 66.
The lower surrounding plate segment 621 includes aside plate
portion 622. The side plate portions 622 of the lower surrounding
plate segments 621 of the sleeve plates 62 of each of the adapter
terminals 6 are located respectively at the opposite sides of the
insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one
of the conductive terminals 42. The side plate portion 622 of the
lower surrounding plate segment 621 has an abutting face 623 at a
bottom of the side plate portion 622 for abutting against a
corresponding one of the support faces 427 of the extending segment
425 of the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the
conductive terminals 42. The moving route of each of the adapter
terminals 6 when being sleeved on the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42 along the downward
assembling direction (I) may be limited accordingly.
Each of the sleeve plates 62 further includes a resilient arm 624
extending upward from a top end of one of the side plate portions
622 and inclining inward. The two resilient arms 624 converge
toward each other along an upward direction. Each resilient arm 624
has a top locking end 625. The insert segment 426 of the insert arm
421 of each of the conductive terminals 42 has a neck portion 428
connected to the extending segment 425, and a top pushing head
portion 429 formed on a top end of the neck portion 428. The top
pushing head portion 429 of the insert segment 426 of the insert
arm 421 of each of the conductive terminals 42 further has a curved
top pushing face 433 for pushing the resilient arms 624 of the two
sleeve plates 62 of the corresponding one of the adapter terminals
6. The top pushing head portion 429 is disposed to push the
resilient arms 624 of the sleeve plates 62 of the corresponding one
of the adapter terminals 6 to deform and bend outward so that the
top pushing head portion 429 may pass over the top locking ends 625
of the resilient arms 624. The top pushing head portion 429 has two
bottom stop faces 430 connected respectively to opposite sides of
the neck portion 428 for stopping the top locking ends 625 of the
resilient arms 624 of the corresponding one of the adapter
terminals 6. The insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 may thus
be prevented from separating from the receiving slot 65 through the
bottom opening 66. Therefore, the two sleeve plates 62 of each of
the adapter terminals 6 may be positioned firmly on the
corresponding insert arm 421 after they are disposed to sleeve on
the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals 42. It should be noted that the number of the resilient
arm 624 and the number of the stop face 430 may be respectively one
and that the effect of preventing the insert segment 426 of the
insert arm 421 from separating from the receiving slot 65 through
the bottom opening 66 can be likewise achieved.
Specifically, the neck portion 428 of the insert segment 426 of the
insert arm 421 of each of the conductive terminals 42 has two
opposite upright side surfaces 431 and two inclined side surfaces
432 respectively connected to top ends of the two upright side
surfaces 431. The two inclined side surfaces 432 extend upward and
converge toward each other and are respectively connected to the
bottom stop faces 430 of the top pushing head portion 429. When the
two sleeve plates 62 of each of the adapter terminals 6 are
disposed to sleeve on the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one
of the conductive terminals 42, the lower surrounding plate
segments 621 of each of the adapter terminals 6 surround the neck
portion 428 of the insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42 so that the side
plate portions 622 of the lower surrounding plate segments 621 are
disposed outwardly and respectively of the upright side surfaces
431 of the neck portion 428 of the insert segment 426 of the insert
arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42.
The resilient arms 624 of each of the adapter terminals 6 grip the
inclined side surfaces 432 of the neck portion 428 of the insert
segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the
conductive terminals 42. Accordingly, each of the adapter terminals
6 may be prevented from shaking or rotating relative to the insert
arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42.
Preferably, each of the sleeve plates 62 of each of the adapter
terminals 6 further includes an upper surrounding plate segment 626
connected to the base plate 61 and spaced apart from and located
above the resilient arms 624. The upper surrounding plate segments
626 of the sleeve plates 62 surround the top pushing head portion
429 of the insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. The upper
surrounding plate segments 626 are correspondingly connected to the
lower surrounding plate segments 621 via two connecting plate
segments 627 spaced apart from the base plate 61. Accordingly, the
sleeve plates 62 may enclose and surround the insert segment 426 of
the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals 42 so as to further ensure that each of the adapter
terminals 6 may be prevented from shaking or rotating relative to
the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals 42.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 9, when assembling together the cable unit
5, the adapter terminals 6, and the electrical connector 4, first,
each of the cables 52 is inserted along the downward assembling
direction (I) to be disposed between the two first gripping plates
63 and between the two second gripping plates 64 of a corresponding
one of the adapter terminals 6 so that the two first gripping
plates 63 and the two second gripping plates 64 correspondingly
grip the core wire 521 and the insulator sheath 522 of the cables
52.
Referring to FIGS. 8, 10, and 11, the bottom opening 66 of each of
the adapter terminals 6 is then aligned with the insert arm 421 of
a corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. Each of the
adapter terminals is then sleeved on the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42 along the downward
assembling direction (I). In the course of moving each of the
adapter terminals 6 along the downward assembling direction (I),
the insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the corresponding
one of the conductive terminals 42 is extended into the receiving
slot 65 through the bottom opening 66. When the curved top pushing
face 433 of the top pushing head portion 429 of the insert segment
426 of the insert arm 421 of each of the conductive terminals 42
abuts against the resilient arms 624 of the two sleeve plates 62 of
the corresponding one of the adapter terminals 6, two horizontal
forces imparted by the curved top pushing face 433 respectively to
the resilient arms 624 may push the resilient arms 624 to deform
and bend outward, and the resilient arms 624 store a restoring
force. When the corresponding one of the adapter terminals 6 is
moved downward to a position in which the resilient arms 624
separate from the top pushing head portion 429, the resilient arms
624 may be restored via the restoring force and grip the inclined
side surfaces 432 of the neck portion 428 of the insert segment 426
of the insert arm 421 of the corresponding one of the conductive
terminals 42. When the abutting face 623 of the side plate portion
622 abuts against a corresponding one of the support faces 427, the
two sleeve plates 62 of each of the adapter terminals 6 are sleeved
on the insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 of the
corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. At this time, the
two sleeve plates 62 enclose and surround the insert segment 426.
Since the bottom stop faces 430 stop the top locking ends 625 of
the resilient arms 624 of the corresponding one of the adapter
terminals 6, the insert segment 426 of the insert arm 421 may be
prevented from separating from the receiving slot 65 through the
bottom opening 66. Therefore, the two sleeve plates 62 of each of
the adapter terminals 6 may be positioned firmly on the insert
segment 426 of the corresponding insert arm 421.
Referring to FIG. 12, the electrical connector 4 is then disposed
on the bottom wall 21 of the shell body 2 so that the insert hole
411 of the electrical connector 4 corresponds to the opening 221 in
the side wall 22 in position. The plug connector 51 of the cable
unit 5 is then connected to the socket connector 31 of the mother
board 3. At this time, the electrical connector 4 is electrically
connected to the mother board 3 through the adapter terminals 6 and
the cable unit 5.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 12, in order to position the electrical
connector 4 firmly within the receiving space 20, in this
embodiment, a baffle plate 7 is disposed on two posts 23 provided
on the bottom wall 21 of the shell body 2 so that the baffle plate
7 abuts against a top side of the insulator body 41 of the
electrical connector 4. Two screws 8 then pass through two through
holes (not shown) in the baffle plate 7 correspondingly and engage
threaded holes 231 in the posts 23 correspondingly so as to lock
the baffle plate 7 on the posts 23. The electrical connector 4 may
be prevented from moving relative to the bottom wall 21 by the
baffle plate 7 abutting against the top side of the insulator body
41 of the electrical connector 4. Therefore, the electrical
connector 4 may be positioned firmly within the receiving space
20.
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a second embodiment of an electronic
device according to this disclosure is illustrated to include
adapter terminals 6' which have a structure slightly different from
that of the adapter terminals 6 used in the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, in each of the adapter terminals 6', the
two first gripping plates 63 are positioned between the two second
gripping plates 64 and the two sleeve plates 62. Each of the cables
52 is inserted along an upward installing direction (II) opposite
to the downward assembling direction (I) to be disposed between the
two first gripping plates 63 and between the two second gripping
plates 64 so that the two first gripping plates 63 and the two
second gripping plates 64 correspondingly grip the core wire 521
and the insulator sheath 522 of the cable 52.
In view of the aforesaid, in the disclosed embodiments, each of the
adapter terminals 6, 6' is connected to the core wire 521 of the
corresponding one of the cables and is sleeved on the insert arm
421 of the corresponding one of the conductive terminals 42. Each
of the conductive terminals 42 of the electrical connector 4 may be
electrically connected to the core wire 521 of the corresponding
one of the cables 52 through the corresponding one of the adapter
terminals 6. Therefore, assembling convenience is enhanced and
assembling time is reduced.
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with
what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments,
it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent
arrangements.
* * * * *